We, the residents of 252 Montrose Avenue, are experiencing ongoing and prolonged power failures that have rendered our living conditions unstable, unsafe, and increasingly uninhabitable. While power interruptions have historically occurred in the broader Northgate area, a troubling pattern has emerged where electricity is restored to surrounding areas, but not to 252 Montrose Avenue. Despite electricity being restored elsewhere, our residence is repeatedly left without power for extended periods, in some instances lasting several days. This ongoing failure has severely disrupted essential daily living and requires immediate intervention.

The situation has escalated significantly since 23 April 2026, with the following outages recorded:

- 23 April: Power outage at 17:48, restored on 24 April at approximately 15:45  
- 26 April: Power outage, only restored on 28 April (residents endured the long weekend without electricity)  
- 2 May: Power outage at 13:27, restored on 4 May at 20:54 (again, spanning a full long weekend)  
- 5 May:  
- Outage at 14:32, briefly restored at 14:38  
- Power lost again at 14:52, restored at 16:09  
- 6 May: Power outage at 03:53, with electricity still not restored despite assurances it would be resolved  

Despite repeated efforts to resolve this matter, these issues have been communicated to Lawrence, the building manager. Unfortunately, responses have been inconsistent and delayed. At times, communication is selective, and in certain instances, faults are either not logged at all or only logged at a much later stage, further prolonging outages and leaving residents without clear updates or accountability.

These repeated failures have placed an unacceptable burden on residents and have significantly deteriorated the standard of living at 252 Montrose Avenue. Residents have experienced:

- Loss of groceries due to prolonged refrigeration failure  

- Inability to work remotely or attend online classes due to Wi-Fi and internet disruptions  
- Damage risk to appliances caused by repeated power surges and outages  
- Heightened anxiety and distress due to uncertainty and lack of communication  
- Severe discomfort during cold weather conditions, particularly affecting young children and vulnerable residents, as heating solutions are unavailable without electricity  

In addition to the above, residents have incurred unexpected financial costs, including:
- Paying for alternative venues (such as cafes or workspaces) to be able to work or study  
- Replacing spoiled groceries and purchasing food daily due to inability to cook  

Furthermore, the ongoing situation has reached a level that residents consider inhumane, as it deprives us of basic rights, including access to a safe living environment, adequate food storage and preparation, and reliable access to water where electricity is required for pumping or heating.  

We also note that this situation constitutes a breach of the contractual obligations between tenants and management. Residents entered into lease agreements with the reasonable expectation of a habitable environment with consistent access to essential services, including electricity. The continued failure to provide this service falls short of those obligations.

Remedies Sought by Residents:

In light of the ongoing inconvenience, financial strain, and deterioration of living conditions, residents collectively demand the following:

1. A 50% reduction in rent for the upcoming month as partial compensation for the loss of essential services and additional expenses incurred    

2. The urgent provision and installation of a generator to ensure continuity of essential electricity supply during outages  
3. An urgent meeting between management and residents to address these issues transparently and agree on immediate and long-term solutions  
4. Immediate and lasting repair of the electricity supply issue affecting 252 Montrose Avenue  
5. Improved accountability in fault reporting and logging  
6. Transparent, timely, and consistent communication with residents  

We trust that this matter will be treated with the urgency it deserves. Should this matter not be addressed promptly, the residents reserve the right to escalate the matter to the Gauteng Rental Housing Tribunal and the relevant municipal authorities for further intervention and enforcement of tenant rights.

Continued inaction will only further impact the well-being, safety, dignity, and rights of all residents.

Sincerely,  

The Residents of 252 Montrose Avenue